• Unit Nine-Earth in Space

    What You'll Learn 1:
    • How light and telescopes are used to explore the sky.
    • How to identify features on the Moon.
    • What theroies are used to descibe the Moon's origin.
    • How to analyze the motions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon.
    Why It's Important 1:
    The motions of the Sun-Earth-Moon system affect Earth physically, as well as play an important role in our timekeeping system.
    Key Vocabulary 1:
    interferometry reflecting telescope refracting telescope
    spinoff albedo ejecta
    highland impact crater mare
    ray regolith rille
    apogee autumnal equinox ecliptic
    lunar eclipse perigee solar eclipse
    summer solstice synchronous rotation vernal equinox
    winter solstice
     
    Key Concepts/Understandings 1:
    • Describe electromagnetic radiation.
    • Explain how telescopes work.
    • Describe space exploration.
    • Describe the development of exploration of the Moon.
    • Identify feartures on the Moon.
    • Explain the theories of how the Moon formed.
    • Identify the relative positions and motions of Earth, the Sun, and the Moon.
    • Describe the phases of the Moon.
    • Expalin eclipses of the Sun and Moon.
    What You'll Learn 2:
    • What the structure and processes of the Sun are.
    • What properties are used to observe adn measure stars.
    • How stars change during their lives and what is left when they die.
    Why It's Important 2:
    The Sun is vital to life on Earth.  To understand the Sun, which is a star, it is necessary to understand how all stars function and evolve.  Stars are also the building blocks of out galaxy and the source of most elements in the universe.
    Key Vocabulary 2:
    chromosphere corona fission
    fusion photosphere prominence
    solar flare solar wind spectrum
    sunspot abslolute magnitude apparent magnitude
    binary star constellation Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
    luminosity main sequence parallax
    black hole nebula neutron star
    prstar supernova
     
    Key Concepts/Understandings 2:
    • Explore the structure of the Sun.
    • Describe the solar activity cycle and how the Sun affects Earth.
    • Compare the different types of spectra.
    • Describe star distribution and distance.
    • Classify the types of stars.
    • Summarize the interrelated properties of stars.
    • Explain how astronomers learn about the internal structture of stars.
    • Describe how the Sun will change during its lifetime and how it will end up.
    • Compare the evolution of stary of differnt masses.
Last Modified on February 23, 2015